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Friday, April 19, 2024
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BOLLYWOOD INDU SARKAR
EDITOR'S PICK
Indu Sarkar': An astutely mounted propaganda film (Review By Troy Ribeiro ; Rating: ***)
A political drama with a detailed disclaimer about hurting the sentiments of
anyone, Madhur Bhandarkar's controversial "Indu Sarkar" is a cleverly plotted
propaganda film.
Set in the backdrop of the dark phase of the 1975 Emergency, the film begins
with the horrific atrocities committed by the government of that period. Soon,
the narrative changes track to capture the travails of an ordinary woman called
Indu Sarkar.
Indu is a simple, reticent and unconfident orphan who marries a government
employee, Navin Sarkar, thus the title "Indu Sarkar". Indu's only ambition is to
be a good dutiful wife, whereas Navin's is to rise the ranks in his office and
thereby ensure he leads a comfortable life in future.
But when the government declares the Emergency, his superior -- the politician
Om Nath -- tells him to do something to the effect build your dreams and work
hard during the Emergency... your dreams will be fulfilled. So, Navin works
blindly and earnestly by following diktats.
Soon, the ideologies of Indu and her husband clash. How their lives interweave
with the political scenario, forms the crux of the tale.
This piece of fiction, written by Anil Pandey and Madhur Bhandarkar, has based
its research on the Shah Commission Report and is shrewdly mounted. The script
gives a fair display of human selfishness and spinelessness and the film is
disturbing. It reminds you of the tough moments an obtuse government can create.
The film, mounted as a realistic drama, offers the grit and effervescence of the
period. The sepia tone frames and the crabby background score all add to the
aura.
The qawalli, though unwarranted, breaks the momentum of the seriousness of the
subject, thus making you realise that this is only fiction.
Kirti Kulhari is a natural performer and as the eponymous character Indu, she is
excellent. She effortlessly renders her character of a stammering young lady who
is soft at heart yet hard during tough moments.
She is aptly supported by the powerful actor Tota Roy Chowdhury as her husband
Navin.
Neil Nitin Mukesh, a competent actor, plays Chief -- the extra constitutional
authority who is protecting the interest of his mother -- with aplomb.
With a few ineffective scenes and nothing meaningful to offer, Anupam Kher as
the political fighter Nanaji is wasted.
The other actors who have their moments of onscreen glory are: Sheeba Chaddha
who plays Mekhla, a distraught mother who gets into social service and later the
Himmat India Sangathan, and the actors who play the politician Om Nath and
police officers Misha and Sodhi.
For its 139-minute duration, the film seems stretched. The narrative is
reiterated in the last act, making the viewing a tedious fare.
Actress Kirti Kulhari who is busy promoting her upcoming film "Blackmail" hopes that it does well at the box-office.Kirti interacted with the media here on Wednesday to promote the film.When asked what helps an actor to get more work -- box office success or good performance, the actress said: "It's both actually... Numbers always help, I think more than the performance. But it also depends... There are some people in the industry to whom what matters is how good the actor is but to others it doesn't.Read More
Madhur Bhandarkar, Hema Malini to be felicitated in RussiaNational Award-winning filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar and veteran actress Hema Malini will be felicitated at the 4th Indian Film Festival of Russia, for their contribution to Indian cinema.Read More
Indu Sarkar is a Historical Drama set in the Indian Emergency period between 1975 to 1977.
